Glow Hoochies at 110 Feet Are Fooling Winter Chinook

What's Working on the Water Today

Let's cut straight to the gear, because that's what's filling the net right now. Glow hoochies trailed behind a flasher down at 100 to 120 feet are the ticket for these resident winter Chinook. Dial your downriggers in around that 110-foot mark and you'll be in the strike zone where the bait is holding. If the hoochie bite slows, swap to a glow or army-truck spoon and keep your gear clean — these fish are feeding deliberately in the cold water and a fouled lure gets ignored. Cut-plug herring rolled slow still produces too, especially right on the slack.

Today's Conditions

It's a crisp one out there this morning — 3°C with overcast skies that keep the light low and the fish comfortable up in the water column. Northwest winds are light at just 7 km/h, and wave height is sitting at a glassy 0.0m. That's about as calm as Discovery Passage gets. We're working the morning slack into the flood, which is prime timing to put baits in front of feeding Chinook before the current ramps up.

Why the Chinook Are Here

These are local resident winter Chinook, running 8 to 15 lbs, and they're parked in Discovery Passage and the surrounding inside waters feeding hard on bait. Unlike the migratory summer fish, these resident chrome stick around all winter, which is exactly why Campbell River earns its reputation this time of year. The overcast skies and slack-to-flood window are concentrating bait, and the Chinook are right underneath it.

What Guests Can Expect This Week

Flat water, low light, and consistent action on quality winter springs. Retention is 2 per day with a 62cm minimum, so there's real opportunity to put keepers in the box. We'll be working the Passage shorelines and the deeper edges, adjusting depths as the tide moves. Dress warm — those single-digit temperatures bite early, but the fishing more than makes up for it. Bring layers, bring your camera, and let us handle the gear and the hot spots.

Book Your Seat

Winter Chinook fishing in Discovery Passage is some of the best-kept action on the coast, and days this calm don't come along often. If you've been waiting for glassy water and feeding fish, this is your week. Grab a spot before these prime slack-tide mornings fill up — reach out and let's get you on the water.

Ready to experience world-class fishing in Campbell River? Book your charter trip with Fishing Storie Charters today. Captain Jason and the crew are ready to put you on fish.